IMPRESSIONS OF ’FRISCO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2664, 20 November 1909, Page 2

IMPRESSIONS OF ’FRISCO.

RETURN OF THE REV. FATHER PRICE.

The Rev. Father Price, administrator of the Roman Catholic diocese of Christchurch, returned from a health visit to America last week. In an uitorview with a member of the 1 ross, Rxther Price* spoke interestingly <n San i’rancisco, the new city that has sprung, Phoen:x-like, from the ashes of the’ old one. . “The new San Francisco, • said Father Price, “which has evolved from the ruins caused by the earthquake and fire three years ago, is a marvellous illustration ’of the energy of the Americans. To-day it is the newest city of its size in the world, and the class of buildings which have replaced those destroyed is unexcelled. They contain all the latest and most up-to-date appliances for ventilation and sanitation, ■and the element of safety in view or the experience gained at the time of the great earthquake and fire is one of the points that have been most considered in. the work of re-building. There is at least 200,000 more feet of office space in the business portions of the city than before, and all the vacant offices are being applied for before the buildings are ready for occupation. It shows the confidence which San Franciscans have in the future of their beautiful city. All the signs of the great calamity which overtook San Francisco three years ago have practically disappeared, except that in the residential quarter there are many vacant blocks, but this is principally owing to the fact that owners are asking high prices for them. No city in the world can compare with San Francisco in the number of hotels and apartment houses. The quantity of houses erected, especially for the accommodation of the travelling public, is astonishing. These buildings are beautiful in design, and the marblelined halls, elegant lobbies, and magnificent dining-rooms, are a revelation to visitors. When the fire drove the people to the outskirts of the city, many determined to buy property there and erect homes. For twenty miles down the peninsula there is now a succession of beautifully-laid-oqt blocks of residences,- with flower gardens and lawns. Thousands of carpenters, stonemasons, and bricklayers have been employed in this work.” Father Price mentioned that President Taft, whilst on a visit to San Francisco, stated that he intended to propose a subsidy for tli.o Californian mail service to New Zealand. He also said, at a banquet given him, that the Panama Cabal would be completed by the 15th November, 1915, and that the excavation -was proceeding at the rate of three millions of cubic feet per month. Father Price left San Francisco two days before the celebration of the anniversary of the discovery of the Bay of San Francisco by Caspar Fortola 140 years ago. The city was being gaily decorated for the occasion', and on imposing programme of celebrations had been arranged for. Father Price went east as far as New York, and was greatly impressed with that city. As a New Zealander he was present at the first appearance of the Maori troupe in New York, where they were accorded a magnificent reception. The hakas especially were enthusiastically applauded.